By TCN News,
Muslims want to see India more educated, prosperous and stronger than all other countries. For this there should be communal harmony and strong unity among communities in the entire country. This is the general feeling of Muslims in Delhi and Patna today on 60th Republic Day. TCN teams went into streets in the two capital cities and asked people: What kind of India they want to see in future, and what requires for India to become internally strong.
“We want to see a strong India. Unity, communal amity and harmony are must for it, says Azmat Ali Khan,” a driver in New Delhi. A. Danyal, principal, Millat Urdu High School in Patna echoes the driver: “The wise way to make India internally powerful is to promote communal harmony by inter-faith dialogues among the communities. As India’s is a plural society, without mutual understanding it cannot progress and get stronger.”
While many are proud of the democratic system of the country, some say we can see a delightful future if the values of democracy be given its due respect by government as well as citizens.
Delhi Muslims:
A Jamia Millia Islamia student— We want India become better than today. People should excel and be honest in their work.
Azmat Ali Khan, a driver— We want a strong India – an India where education particularly of Muslims is ensured. For India to become strong, communal unity and harmony is must.
Kausar Neyaz, a teacher— Better than today. Education is must so that poverty is eradicated and children become soldiers of the country.
Muslehuddin, a teacher— India should maintain its importance in the world. It should move on the path shown by former president APJ Abdul Kalam. Only then India can become super power. Youth of the Muslim community should be strong educationally and financially
Two madrasa students— Developed, prosperous. People should think good for each other. They should be united and love each other.
Nayyer Azam, a B.Tech student— Prosper and communally peaceful. Politicians should be honest.
A Muslim NRI— Honest, decent and truthful. We have a great nation. If leaders become honest, it will be good for India as a nation and for all communities.
A grocer— A happy, prosperous India. There should be communal unity and harmony.
Azeem, a class V student— An India where roads should be clean and there is no terrorist. We ourselves should become good to make India better.
Farooq Ali, ex-Army man and security guard at Jamia Millia Islamia—Want to see India stronger than America. This can be achieved through education. Education alone can make India super power.
Tanveer Ahmad Qasmi, a cleric—Want India become leading country in the world. For this we will have to choose the path of truth and honesty. To make India great and leading, we have to free India from corruption as well. Our country is great in terms of democracy and I am proud of it.
Delhi Muslim women:
Shaheen Kausar, principal of a private Muslim school— Want to see India very beautiful and very strong. I wish it again become golden bird and stronger than all countries. For this struggle, courage and unity are required.
Sakina Anwar, a student of Jamia Millia Islamia: Very beautiful and better India. We must be united so that we could work for the betterment of the country.
Bushra, an MA student: Want to see India better, higher and more developed than others. We need confidence and unity.
Patna Muslims:
Maulana Anisur Rahman Qasmi, chairman, Bihar Haj Committee—Our country has democratic system and we believe it will see delightful future if the values of the democracy be given its due respect by government as well as all the citizens.
A Danyal, principal, Millat Urdu High School—We want to see corruption-free, educated and cultured India where all the basic facilities are available for all the citizens irrespective of religions, castes and creeds. The wise way to make India internally powerful is to promote communal harmony by inter-faith dialogues among the communities. This is because India has plural society so without mutual understanding it cannot progress and get strength.
Mufti Sohrab Nadvi, deputy secretary of Imarat-e-Shariah—It is really great to have democracy system in our country but we need to implement this system with its full demands then only every one will be able to live peacefully.
Maulana Wasi Ahmad Qasmi—We want to see India as a role model for whole world and for that, true democracy and unity is must in the country.
Haris,a young journalist—60 years ago the Indian Constitution came into force but it is a fact that we are still far from the vision of our forefathers. We need to work in all fields including education, health, and economy without any discrimination. Every Indian wants to see the country growing but this should be for all and not only for selected people. There should be strong policy to tackle the poverty.
Maulana Noor Alam Rahmani—Discrimination must be ended and equal opportunity should be provided for people of all sections, and especial attention should be given to rural areas where most of the citizens are living. Neglecting them, country will never progress.
Adil Fareedi,a Darul Graduate—Government should build relation with common people and try to understand their problems and concentrate on education. Unfortunately, government take decisions keeping in mind high profile industrialists and not a common man that is why price is growing but government did not take any appropriate step to control it. This is not the way to progress.
(With inputs from TCN teams in Delhi [Mumtaz Alam Falahi and Mahtab Alam] and in Patna [Manzar Bilal and Mudassir Rizwan])